Posted on 03/06/2008 5:28:54 PM PST by markomalley
ROME — The head of the Vatican's Swiss Guard has resigned in a turf battle between the Swiss and a rival Italian security force over who gets to guard the pope a dispute that could hinder security for Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to the U.S.
Col. Elmar Theodore Maeder decided yesterday not to seek a second five-year mandate as head of the pantalooned bodyguards, the smallest army in the world, according to Italian press reports independently confirmed by The Washington Times.
The disagreement stemmed from a proposal by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the powerful Vatican Secretary of State, to deprive the Swiss Guards of their exclusive responsibility for security in the Apostolic Palace.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
pings
Not a smart move I’d take the Swiss Guard over the Italian’s joke army any day of the week.
He must have been really cheesed off.
How many divisions did he have ?
It was an un-holey alliance.
What was his nom de gruyere?
This thread is fermenting. Time to bring in the big cheese himself.
I suggested the Vatican should consider using the Kurds as guards, but they said “No whey!”
I contacted them later and they said your idea on the right whey was a hard one to swallow (all they do is wine anyway).
Who cut the big cheese?
All those Kurds with Swiss Army knives.
Five years in pantaloons is quite enough
Funny pants notwithstanding, those guys have some troops that are seriously not to be trifled with. Tough dudes. Maybe because of the pants. Gotta be pretty tough to wear pants like that.
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